The 51st Vancouver International Boat Show drew steady traffic throughout its five days, including BC’s first Family Day, Monday, February 11. Strong boat and retail sales at the show bolstered confidence in the local recreational boat industry heading into the 2013 season.

To take advantage of Family Day, organizers switched from the show’s usual Wednesday-Sunday slot to open the show on Thursday, which may have been the show’s single best day. Field and concourse exhibits at BC Place were busy from the opening and exhibitors began reporting strong sales almost immediately. One dealer was surprised to find they had made 20 major sales of boats or motors on Thursday alone.

The 45th Annual Southern Straits Classic is set for March 29-31, 2013. The West Vancouver Yacht Club (WVYC) is making preparations to host its Annual Southern Straits Classic for the 45th time. The Easter Weekend racing tradition will see sailors criss-crossing Georgia Strait testing their strategy, skill, and endurance while racing overnight in early season conditions.

The Classic Short, Medium, and Long courses range from 55 to 132 nautical miles. The race committee has redesigned the Medium course, eliminating the leg from Ballenas Is. to Entrance Is., opening it up to new tactics for racers.

The British Virgin Islands is home to Conch Charters, operated for the past 25 years by Cindy Chestnut and Brian Gandey, a young couple from Montreal.

Everybody that I have met that has taken a winter trip to the Caribbean spends at least one moment fantasizing about “cashing it all in” and starting a
business in a tropical paradise. I know because I have done it many times. The British Virgins Islands is one of these special places; beautiful blue water,
swaying palm trees, gentle people and perfect sailing weather almost all year long. In today’s world this is all but impossible with all regulations, quotas,
bureaucracy maturation of the of the local business society in the islands. But 25 years ago the dream was alive and for the taking for Cindy and Brian.

Nova Scotia Islands documentary airs Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 12 Noon. With intriguing pasts and mysterious happenings, the islands of Nova Scotia have been the setting of stories that stir the senses and rouse the imagination. Abandoned settlements and homesteads, lighthouses and keepers, fisherman and fishing grounds, pirates and treasure, contagious diseases and mass burials, ghostly apparitions and lost cemeteries are all highlighted in this homage to Nova Scotia's colourful island history.

Islands are part of the geography and history of the Maritimes, nowhere more so than Nova Scotia. Jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean, there are more than 3,800 islands that lie scattered along nearly 5,000 miles of

The Halifax International Boat Show returns February 21 – 24, 2013 at Exhibition Park in Halifax, Nova Scotia. This event encompasses the largest and most sought after brands of boats and boating equipment in Eastern Canada and it’s all under one roof.

Visit our Canadian Yachting staff at Exhibitor Booth #406. Stop by to say hi and pick up a free edition.

The Halifax International Boat Show is the largest boat show in Eastern Canada. Exhibited boats range in size from 6' to over 30' and include runabouts, cruisers, motor yachts, sail boats, sailing dinghies, pontoon boats, bass boats, inflatables, RIBS and personal water craft.

The 2013 First 36.7 North American Championship (NAC) Organizing committee is pleased to announce that registration is now open for the 2013 First 36.7 NAC.

Scheduled for September 5-8, 2013 and hosted at the Belmont Station of Chicago Yacht Club (CYC), the Notice of Race (NOR) and registration instructions are located at Yacht Scoring. The entry fee includes dockage during the event and access to all parties for the skipper and up to eight crew members. Be sure to get your entry in early as there are incentives for early registration!

Great things to check out at the boat shows this winter! Although it’s almost exclusively a powerboat show, Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show attracts the most impressive range of boats and yachts in North America…and probably worldwide! From the smallest inflatable dinghy to the largest private superyacht that can float into the harbour, the Fort Lauderdale show brings boats from all over the globe. It’s one of our favourite shows because it’s so international and so diversified. It’s a boat lover’s paradise – but the people-watching is great, too!

While you are at this year's Vancouver International Boat Show be sure to stop by exhibitor booth # 174 to say hi, pick up an issue of Canadian Yachting West magazine and renew your subscription. We'd like to know what you think of the boating issues of the day. Share your thoughts and/or adventures with us!

Platinum Marine announces the unveiling of their new refit project, “encore”, 120’ Crescent, at the 2013 Seattle Boat Show. The luxury yacht was refurbished to new construction levels through Platinum’s Transformational Refit program.

The transformation included the addition of an upper level, modernized exterior styling, hull lengthening, and the addition of a bulbous bow. The interior of the new tri-level vessel was removed and replaced with a professionally designed interior with up-to-date amenities such as a state-of-the-art entertainment system, technically advanced lighting systems, and chef’s galley. Mechanical, electronic, and yacht management systems have been either significantly upgraded or replaced throughout the vessel. Essentially the encore is a new yacht in appearance and operation, without the cost of a newly constructed vessel. The encore is listed for sale by Platinum Marine for $6,995,000.

Sunsail is thrilled to open a new yacht charter base in Palma on the island of Mallorcain May 2013. This new sailing destination will offer Bareboat and Skippered Yacht Charters and is perfect for cruising the nearby Balearic Islands of Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera.

Cheryl Powell, Chief Operating Officer of Sunsail, who has enjoyed several holidays in Palma commented; “our new base in Palma, the busy commercial and cultural center of Mallorca and the capital of the beautiful Balearic Islands, is a fantastic addition to our charter offering in the Mediterranean. With great access from almost every European airport, Palma is a city of modern hotel chains, and stylish shops; yet, it still retains much of the fascinating architecture in the Old Town and the restored cathedral stands proud in the center of town. Guests can dine out on some of the best tapas Spain has to offer and enjoy the great shopping, before or after setting sail.”

Anytime a Canadian is asked to travel south in the beginning of our spring, which this year was far from inviting, is a dream worth living. The thought of a sailing adventure, tropical breezes, the smell of spices and the warmth of the sun was too much – we HAD to go! The first thing we did was to dig out the copy of Ann Vanderhoof’s book, The Spice Necklace, we had acquired several years ago and to re-read the seven chapters of their adventures in Grenada. Not only should this be your required reading, but the book is loaded with scrumptious Caribbean recipes that are a must-try.

The “Road to Tokyo 2020” is often categorized into a 4-year campaign towards the Olympics. At the beginning of the “quad”, Sarah Douglas and her coach planned the four-year lead up to the Olympics. They looked at their end goal and worked backwards from there: deciding year by year what goals they need to reach to achieve the ultimate goal of a medal at the Olympics.

With the 2020 Olympics fast approaching, Sarah has just passed the halfway point in her campaign. “This past summer, I qualified Canada in the Laser Radial class for Tokyo 2020 and placed 6th at the 2018 World Sailing Championships.

In the case of baking a cake, Betty Crocker and Julia Child both start off with the same eggs, sugar and flour, but the results can be very different. Naval architects, designers and engineers in the boat business also have many of the same ingredients, but the trick is to make the cake unique and desirable.

With a huge history of innovative design in boatbuilding, Jeanneau brings the sort of skill and artistry to their boats that can set them apart. Their new Leader 9.0 model is a case in point.

A recent conversation with a fellow contractor got me thinking: With all of the information out there, including: Websites showing repairs, YouTube tutorials, Instagram pages and snapchat streams – let alone books, magazines, service manuals, and years of practical experience – how does a boat owner know which method(s) are ‘right’, who to trust, and who to hire to do the job? In short: How do you find and select a contractor?

Unfortunately, most people are forced to hire a contractor due to a circumstance where something has broken or failed, or the task...

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